What phenomenon occurs when a refrigerant leaks at different rates due to varying pressures?

• A. Fractionation
• B. Temperature glide
• C. Saturation
• D. Vaporization

Answer: (A)

Fractionation occurs when a refrigerant leaks at different rates due to varying pressures. This term refers to the separation of a mixture into its components based on different physical or chemical properties. In the context of refrigerants, when a refrigerant mixture leaks, the lighter components tend to escape faster than the heavier ones due to differences in boiling point and pressure. This can lead to a change in the composition of the refrigerant remaining in the system, potentially affecting its performance and efficiency. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

In contrast, temperature glide involves the non-ideal behavior of refrigerant mixtures, where different components evaporate at slightly different temperatures. Saturation refers to the point at which vapor and liquid phases of a refrigerant coexist at a certain temperature and pressure. Vaporization is the process of a substance transitioning from a liquid to a vapor state. These concepts, while related to refrigerants, do not specifically explain the phenomenon of varying leak rates due to pressure differences.